Black Necked Stilt

We came across these Black Necked Stilts at Horicon Marsh and saw their courtship ritual. The male splashs water at the side of the female and then preens and repeats this several times walking around her. He then mounts and mates with her and places his beak across hers as he slides down to her side. Keeping his beak crossed with hers they did a very dancelike pirouette together and walked side by side before breaking contact.